Still fat, more gray. I tried to smile.
So I went to the house and was in for a little surprise. The former owner left his dog in there for months (which we knew), but he had supposedly removed it after the neighbors and my mom called the game warden. He said he did, but apparently took it out and put it back in and told no one. So when I went over to change the locks, I was greeted with a very sad and emaciated dog.
He’s a very sweet old dog, doesn’t bark and is starved for attention. I gave him a tiny tiny bit of food because you have to be super careful with how much food you give a dog who has gone through this, and will give him some more tonight, as well as plenty of water. Unfortunately, he has shit all over the entire house and there is dog hair everywhere.
Tomorrow I am taking him to my friend the vet to see if he can be saved or if it is more humane to put him down, and if he can be saved I guess I will just pay the vet to do everything that needs to be done and my sister’s animal rescue in Pittsburgh is going to take him and get him the home he deserves. Everyone in town is just livid and furious, and the older lady next door who had been feeding him when she knew he was there almost broke down in tears. If I see this asshole I am going to have to really exercise a great deal of self control so that it does not become a felony encounter.
I’m new to this adulting stuff, so I hired a real estate attorney to deal with all the paperwork, and in the short term all I am going to do is get the yard taken care of and powerwash the fence and the house because the neighbors have suffered enough. Phase two will involve a dumpster and ripping out all the carpet and basically just deep cleaning the entire property until it is sanitary enough to work in.
After that, electrician and plumber, my friend is a contractor and will have him look at a few things, and when that is done, I will start painting. Since I am starting new, I have the luxury of actually choosing the colors for the interior, so that is nice. Then the flooring. It’s a 1910 house so I am hoping underneath there is some hardwood thick enough condition that hasn’t been refinished 100 times and is good enough for another sanding and finishing. If not, I’ll explore options.
I’m mentally exhausted. This is more excitement in one day than I usually have in six months barring personal injuries, which, I’ve noticed, come less frequently now that I am sober.
Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class
Heartbreaking.
If you can have the rat bastard prosecuted, please do so.
chopper
oh, the injuries do certainly make things exciting.
congrats on the house.
celticdragonchick
You need to report for animal cruelty. This is a felony offense.
Comrade Mary
Oh my god, the poor puppy! I hope the vet can find out quickly the best path for him.
And the FUCKER who left him there deserves to face criminal charges if a thorough ass-kicking is still, unfortunately, illegal. It’s not just that the poor animal suffered, but people who could have helped if they had known, like the neighbour lady, are going to be carrying unwarranted guilt around.
Short Bus Bully
Congrats on the house.
This whole post is John Cole in a nutshell. Good shit.
chopper
@Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class:
that would be nice.
Southern Beale
He needs to be reported for animal cruelty. Hell, even here in Tennessee we now have an animal cruelty register (like the sex offender registry). This guy needs to be in jail.
The poor pup. I’m shocked.
The Ancient Randonnuer
Report this guy. He’s a danger to animals and most likely a danger to humans.
Funny how that works. Fewer hold my beer and watch this moments results in fewer injuries.
Seanly
Your smile is worse than mine! I at least part my lips a tiny bit. Some recent photos of me make me look like I have ill-fitting dentures even though I don’t. Not sure if that’s good or bad, but I think it’s bad…
I do have a great smirk – it comes out when I am about to drop a can of whoop ass on the D&D group I DM or when a piece of electronics dies & I can buy something new. My wife laughs at me when I break it out.
2nd edit – good of you to take care of that poor dog. I hope he can be rescued. Considering that his face doesn’t look very grey I would think he’s not too old and hopefully can recover. Dogs are probably as resilient as people. You’re a good man, John Cole.
celticdragonchick
Also, document the condition of the house were the dog was kept with pictures. Lots of pictures. Or, get animal protection to come in and see the dog and the house to build a case that the dog was intentionally abandoned and left to die. This is really serious stuff and you should do this ASAP.
Paul Wartenberg
We need to do fund-raising for the puppy’s vet bills. where can we send help?
amygdala
You look fine. And bless you for your efforts to save that poor pup. Put out the tin cup if you need a hand with expenses.
jacy
Adulting is hard! Many congrats on the house — hope it brings you and yours much joy, with a minimal amount of headache.
As for the motherfucker who abused that poor dog, I hope karma is swift and merciless. Motherfucker.
Devon
I would say his best course is to get some love, food, attention, care and respect. He deserves a mulligan for the absolutely Shiteous way he has been treated.
Elizabeth
I want to hug my spoiled rotten dog now.
That poor puppy.
Citizen_X
It’s a good selfie, John. But that dog pic hurts to look at. Poor thing!
I hope charges can be brought against that guy.
Jeffro
Hey, how about that? Congrats on the house and everything, John!
MazeDancer
How incredibly horrible for that poor dog. It didn’t bark? What a good puppy. Have seen pictures of dogs in this kind of criminal condition who later heal into happy pups. Hope that is the case for this doggie.
If it is a substantial vet bill, John, would you consider letting BJ chip in as a house warming?
And congrats on the house! All old houses are trouble. But the beauty is usually worth it.
And speaking of beauty, you look wonderful! Would say adorable but men hate that. So – hale, hearty, and handsome.
Dadadadadadada
So, guy who couldn’t keep up the payments and got his house foreclosed on and sold out from under him also had a dog he was recklessly careless about? I am the world’s least surprised man.
Given your views on abused animals, it’s probably a good thing you were the only guy to show up at that auction, Cole.
Also, way OT, here’s what Clinton should say about the Melania illegal-immigrant “issue”: “While I don’t condone anyone breaking the law, it is obvious to me and many other Americans that our immigration system is needlessly difficult to navigate. Should we punish the people who try? Of course not. Many people come here the same way Mrs. Trump did, and they and we have benefited from it. Instead of building walls and punishing such people (and ourselves) by keeping them out, let’s create a more sensible process for letting them in.”
OTOH, I would hope that some number of Clinton supporters will start calling for Trump to personally expel his own wife from the country, just to highlight the hypocrisy and unworkability of his “views”.
Jeffro
Now then…can we talk about how Trump just said Pence “asked [Trump’s] permission to endorse Paul Ryan”? Because the news day is not quite yet done, apparently.
Also had no idea that Harrisburg, PA “is a war zone”. Hummm
Elmo
Jesus Christ. I wish I was shocked, but I’m not; I’ve seen it many times.
John: Get powdered goat’s milk. It is extremely digestible, high-protein, and you can either turn it into liquid or you can just sprinkle it on whatever you feed the dog. Trust me – it really helps. Also molasses (NOT HONEY).
If you end up taking care of him, please email me at LM (those are my initials) HAGAN (all one word, but I’m avoiding spammers here) AT ATT dot NET. My wife and I have rehabbed dozens upon dozens of dogs, some every bit as starved as your guy here. We will help any way we can, and I will get you a recipe for something called “satin balls” that are guaranteed to put weight on a dog and shine in a coat.
Hang in there, and thank whatever pasta you pray to that you went over to the house when you did. At least, no matter what happens, that dog will not die alone. You can do that, at least. And it’s something.
Rosalita
UGH!! That poor baby! Humans are despicable. I am a cat rescue volunteer and this shit happens on a regular, heartbreaking basis. What do they think will happen by leaving them there? I fostered a poor cat who was left for several weeks and we were afraid she would not make it – a 12 year old, loving, deaf cat just left behind. The good news is that she has gotten better and I was a foster failure so she lives with me and 3 other cats now. He was left in the right house John to be rescued by you.
NorthLeft12
Not that you need me to tell you this, but John, you are a very good person. I concur with everyone else on here, a call to the authorities is in order for the d-bag who would do this to that dog. WTF is wrong with people?
Woodrowfan
I’m going to go hug my dogs now…. Please start a BJ fund for vet bills…
low-tech cyclist
@MazeDancer:
Seconded.
jl
Thnx for Colepic. Almost as handsome as the petpix.
Congrats on new house.
I look forward to many many (many) future fixer-upper rennovationpix. (ha ha, need at least one joke in the comment. har har ha ha).
Technocrat
I can excuse quite a bit from people, but animal cruelty is a bright line for me. It’s not just that the poor dog was starving (which is horrible enough), but that he was fucking waiting. Dogs wait for you. Breaks my heart.
Also, too John, I pictured you as more of a grim bloke. Don’t ask me why.
@low-tech cyclist:
Thirded
redshirt
Somehow you look very different then you used to. Or my memory of how you looked.
Manyakitty
Your vet friend will probably know the best way to respond to the poor pup’s neglect, whether with criminal charges or whatever. Unimaginable.
Regardless, this is one more important reason you ended up with the house. As much as I disregard fate, etc., sometimes things work out the way they should.
pat
Here’s another vote for getting this guy in as much trouble as possible. Pics, lots of pics, etc. What kind of horrible person could do something like that?
Dan Garfinkel
Congrats on the house, John. Hope the doggie makes it, too. It’s better to answer cruelty with kindness, but, still, I know a guy who knows a guy….
scav
If ever there was a house you’d be sure to buy, it would be that one with a poor dog that needed rescuing. May he get all the best he needs (that’s the sure half by now) and may whoever did that to him get exactly what he deserves.
raven
Goddammit.
Lurker
I can’t believe that this fucker abandoned the dog to starve and die in an empty house! What kind of person would do that? Feel free to kick his teeth out if you ever meet him. I’m sure the local cops will look away. This is so dreadful that I want to cry. Thank goodness the pup is in your care. I know that you will do everything necessary to save him.
Poopyman
Second all the above.
And change the locks. All of them. Now.
ETA: OK, I see you were doing that already. Do the outbuildings too. And make sure the windows won’t open from the outside. This fucker’s already shown what kind of person he is – don’t give him an opportunity.
jl
Cole’s pix much clearer than before.
I attribute it to tragic departure of our beloved and worshiped dear leader Tunch.
The TunchBody definitely produced a lot gravitational lensing and space warping.
And now that He is departed for the great beyond in the sky and is at a safe distance, I note great scientific progress in understanding gravitation and black holes. Coincidence? I think not.
Edit: Consider this comment a tribute to His Infinite Denseness, the TunchForce.
raven
If the floor is too thin to sand you can screen it with a buffer and put oil on it.
Lizzy L
What everyone has said. Report the guy for animal cruelty. Let us help with the costs of taking care of the dog. You are such a good man, John.
I’m going to take my old dog for a long walk, now. He’s thirteen, and much much loved.
SiubhanDuinne
John, you look great! I’m so happy for you these days. You’re making your life work, and it’s to the great benefit of all.
I am heartbroken, though, by the photo and backstory of that poor dog. Do you actually know personally the heartless piece of shit who abandoned him? (In a fairly small town, I’m thinking you possibly do.) Agree with everyone who is urging you to document everything in photographs and get the animal welfare authorities in there pronto.
And please don’t hesitate to put up a GoFundMe or PayPal link to help with doggy expenses. I hope he can be saved and live a very happy life.
Prescott Cactus
Take deep breaths and scream a little bit. It can’t hurt.
Have you considered a BJ Meet Up and Dumpster fill get together ? ? ?
I bet you would surprised, and teary eyed by the positive responses !
Those who could ‘t attend could drop a few bucks for the vet and materials you could use.
Peace John Cole !
Breezeblock
Updates on the dog please. Thanks. And congrats, and “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown”
Miss Bianca
Oh, that is just horrifying. I can’t imagine doing such a thing to any animal, but a dog just seems particularly horrible.
Stella and Luna are going to get some extra skritches tonight.
ETA: The BJ meet-up, Dumpster fill, and rescue fund all sound like great ideas. Tho’ you would likely be horrified at the thought of a great lot of BJ fans coming and camping out in his space!
OldDave
This.
Mark
People on that street are gaining a damn good neighbor.
ruckus
I know this will sound weird but the dog owner may be in a similar state. I’ve been on my ass with no income and a dog. Now I was willing to feed the dog before I ate but there may be kids involved. Granted they could have taken the dog to a shelter. In any event the owners should be reported for abuse.
Barbara
I am so happy the dog is in good hands. I second the willingness to contribute to his welfare. Wishing you the best with the house. It looks like a Victorian “four square,” slightly modified, and if built in that period would date back to anywhere between 1880 and 1920. My house was built in 1913 and it had knob and tube wiring when we bought it and we rewired the whole house — I mean, literally “we” did it. It took a whole year and we had it permitted and inspected. But yes, the wiring was offset by nice wood floors. When we pulled out the carpet, even in the upstairs the floors were nice enough to redo, but not nearly as nice as the floors on the first level. Also, termites.
jl
And, good luck with the poor abandoned dog. Can’t believe the previous owner acted so cruelly.
Some people never understand how the ‘adulting’ stuff works, even though it is a pain in the neck sometimes.
rp
WHY ARE PEOPLE SUCH A$$HOLES?!?!
Emma
I think that you were led to that house to help that pup. It will be a good home to you because you took care of its dog. (I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes karma works in mysterious ways).
mistermix
Put up a paypal for that dog if he can be saved. I would love to pitch in. That’s just awful.
Tom Levenson
Congrats on the house, John. Have fun with the remaking…
And good on you for your care for that poor dog. How unbelievably sad and infuriating.
DocSardonic
@Elmo: Ok….apparently the recent eye surgery is still settling in…I read that as a recipe for Satan’s balls.
Also since you know your way around the kitchen, sans mustard, bone broth is also good for this situation. Just take some bones with a little meat on them, place in a stock pot, cover with water and of couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Let that soak for an hour or so for the vinegar to help leech out the mineral content the bring to a boil and simmer for several hours.
Mj_Oregon
I’m a cat person, but I’d have this guy prosecuted in a heartbeat. I’ve taken in or fed more feral/throw-away cats than I can properly count over the years in my little town of 800 people because many either can’t afford or are unwilling to spay/neuter their animals OR because they throw them outside and leave them behind when they move. I have no patience or respect for people who abuse or abandon an animal like this. He needs to be arrested and prosecuted for animal abuse immediately although that’s really too good for a such a POS.
I’m in on the donating thing too, Cole. Let us know what we can do.
David ?▶️Hillary/Harley Quinn 2016▶️? Koch
Fuck – DB Cooper sure aged.
Barbara
@ruckus: It’s true. One of the many heart wrenching effects of the great recession included abandoned and neglected pets. Still, leaving him like that was wrong.
Silvery
I get soooo mad when I see stories of people abandoning their animals INSIDE the house. It’s an extremely cruel death sentence. Glad you found him and I hope he can be saved. Seconding everyone else’s funding offers.
singfoom
That poor animal. I hope everything turns out ok with him. As for the former owner, you obviously have his information. As others have suggested, please turn him in for animal cruelty. What a shitbag. It’s one thing if you no longer have the means to provide for an animal. He could have taken him to an animal shelter and said he couldn’t, but couldn’t be bothered.
I’m with you on the rage for this one. That’s just despicable. Plus he left him IN the house so the poor dog had no choice but to ruin the carpets? Yeah, please please please report him. Also yeah, please post details if there’s a GoFundMe for the vet bills, etc.
SiubhanDuinne
@Miss Bianca:
Named after Stellaluna, the bat in Janelle Cannon’s wonderful book, by any chance?
Miss Bianca
@SiubhanDuinne:
Ding, ding, ding, you win the Kewpie doll, my dear! : )
OzarkHillbilly
Holy sh!t. That mf’er needs to be shot and pissed on.
evap
@Miss Bianca: Funny, my cat’s name is Stellaluna, although we just call her Stella. She’s all black and when we adopted her as a kitten, she looked a bit like a bat so my daughters named her after the baby bat named Stellaluna in the book of the same name.
Edited to add: I see yours were named after the same baby bat!
Mnemosyne
Definitely put up a PayPal for the poor doggie. You know we’re good for it.
Riley's Enabler
Thirding, fourthing the call for donations for the surprise dog. That’s so awful I can hardly stand it. Please give him a little extra scritch from Texas tonight when you go back.
hovercraft
@Jeffro:
He got permission for Ryan because he is a close personal friend. But I guess permission was denied for McCain and Ayotte.
SAD !!!
artem1s
be good to yourself and rejoice in your new home. Help our your new puppy friend and try not to be overwhelmed with the asshole who hurt him. It won’t help anyone and only makes your life more stressful. You need to treat yourself well so you can help heal that old house and your new home. Focus on healing and namaste!
Interrobang
Great picture, by the way, although you look nothing like what I was imagining you do. Funny how that works, isn’t it.
I join the bandwagon with calls to have the waste of oxygen who did that to the dog prosecuted. I am so short on cash right now I’m basically in a monetary black hole, but I have lots of heavy books to volunteer for throwing the metaphorical book at him.
And your house looks awesome. It’s exactly and precisely the kind of house I’d buy if I were able to buy a house, and similar to the one I’m currently living in. Congratulations, mazal tov, and other hits from the same album!
SiubhanDuinne
@Miss Bianca:
One of my favourite books. I love the story and the illustrations, and I even own a stuffed toy Stellaluna bat (despite the fact that there are not, and never have been, young children in my life).
Edited to add an important word, without which the parenthetical would have made no sense.
hovercraft
Blog master you are good people. Congrats on the house, and bless you for looking after that poor dog.
Refrain from kicking the asshole in the nuts, remember you’re better than him, he is scum.
Gemina13
@Comrade Mary:
Have that shitheel thrown under the jail, if possible. That poor dog. ::cries::
Seanly
LOL, Harrisburg looks like a war zone?
I see that the comment was about some of the closed plants? Most of those are old steel plants & such a little south of H-burg (that area is actually named Steelton). Those places were long shuttered when I moved to the Harrisburg area in ’97.
Yikes, I just looked at the townhouse we used to own. Glad we sold when we did. But it is a nice area!
kindness
And true to BJers everywhere I feel really bad for the poor dog but am happy it is our John defending and helping defenseless & helpless critters. Who knows, maybe having 4 dogs is a treat ( I will never know).
From my experience when they get to the number 4, they become a pack. Then throw the human values out.
Mike in DC
Nice, large man-sized hands, Cole.
The guy who abandoned his dog needs to be reported and charged.
TheDr
Longtime lurker, first-time commenter, frequent donor to pet blegs. Congrats on the house, I’m in for the fundraiser for vet care/other costs if he (hopefully) can be nursed back to health.
Gemina13
@low-tech cyclist:
Thirded.
Starfish
John, you are looking good in this picture! What happened to that dog is heartbreaking.
MikefromArlington
Just bought myself a 100 yr old home as well. No dogs. Just overgrown backyard full of thistle bushes and holly. My arms are ripped to shreds.
Anyways, electrical, plaster, heating and floors almost done. Next starts painting then move in!
MomSense
OH MY DOG of course there was a dog in need in the house you bought. You really are one of the good ones, John.
I hope the poor dog doesn’t suffer anymore. I really don’t know how people can be so cruel.
dexwood
@Paul Wartenberg:
I like this idea. I’m in…
Rob in CT
Fucking ASSHOLE (the prior owner, obviously)!!!
You sir, are a good man.
Mary G
I put a bit in the donate jar. Use it for the site, the poor puppy, give it to Devon for the furkids, or spend it on the new house. Everything you spend on the repairs will end up costing at least 20% more than the estimate, not because the contractor is a crook, but because as bad as it looks on the surface, it’s usually worse once it’s torn down.
b1narys3rf
Bless your heart John Cole.
Looking good (you, and hopefully soon, the dog too… :-( )
Miss Bianca
@evap: Office Kitty Lefty (who has now been graduated to Store Kitty – the office feels strangely bereft without the little guys draped over my desk and monitors) has those huge bat ears, too!
@SiubhanDuinne: I love that book so much. Once I had a Stella, and got my new pup, “Luna” was almost inevitable as the pupster’s name.
lurker dean
damn, this makes me so sad and angry. i hope he can be saved.
Trollhattan
Dear lord that poor innocent pooch. All they ask is some love, some kibble and a place to sleep. It’s just not that hard.
schrodinger's cat
@Mnemosyne: I just sent you an email, that I was meaning to send you for elebenty days. Sorry for the lateness.
satby
@kindness: 4 is manageable, but the secret is divide and conquer. In my experience though, if this poor boy can be saved, it would be nice for him to be an only, treasured dog in a family where he is cherished as he should be.
hedgehog mobile
John, you are a good man. Second on what everyone else said re help with vet bills and thst POS who abandoned that poor dog.?
Hungry Joe
Cole comes through yet again.
I’m a stone sucker for doggie rescue videos. I writhe through the we-found-him-in-a-garbage-dump scenes, wince through the the bathing and coat-clipping scenes, then grin like a fool through the look-at-him-now! parts. I can’t wait (fingers crossed, re-crossed) to see pics of this doggie all cleaned up and healthy.
bupalos
This stuff really disturbs me. Can we get a little humanity up in here? You don’t know that person’s mindset or what they were dealing with, what mental problems they had, etc. He may have been confused or in crisis and thought someone would be there much sooner and that it was better than just releasing the dog to roam or going to kill shelter. I mean, MAYBE it was just someone that loves torturing their dog, and was excited that getting foreclosed and evicted offered another exciting opportunity for that, but I kind of doubt it. It’s probably someone at the very frayed end of their rope getting a little stupid and unfortunately increasing the animal’s suffering.
satby
And yes, report the previous owner for cruelty. Set up a fund, or we could all just use your regular “support the blog” link, maybe?
JPL
John, Congrats on the house, and like others have mentioned, please let us help out with the vet costs.
I’m hoping that the pet makes it, and receives the love he deserves.
Congrats go to Tom also.
What a blog!
satby
@bupalos: uh, no. I’m familiar with end of the rope living, and you still feed the dependants you have. Even if that means you go without.
Liz
It would be best to wear a mask and cover up when cleaning. Also every interior surface that is not replaced should be sealed or painted with kilz. Had neighbors who bought a house full of feces and urine who just cleaned and painted and both ended up with serious autoimmune problems to the point they couldn’t work. Be sure to check for toxic problems and molds. Best of luck with the house.
Bex
My kitties just had a talk with St. Francis about the dog, who will (paws crossed) be renamed Lucky. Best wishes for a happy life in the new house.
Ben Cisco
Congrats on the house, Cole.
About the pup – it would appear that there’s a reason you’re the one (and only one) who showed up at that auction. You’re a good egg.
As for the bastard that clearly abandoned him to die, what’s that phrase the yoots are using now – DRAG HIM.
Anybody who’d do that to a dog is a hazard to humans as well.
Emma
@bupalos: Releasing the dog to roam would have been the kind thing to do. At least it could scavenge for food. But if you’ve ever seen a homeless person with a dog you know that people will do whatever it takes to protect their pets.
JPL
Someone else, who is cool under pressure link It’s sorta sweet to watch the Secret Service agent pat Hillary’s back.
redshirt
Too bad there’s a flash hot spot to John’s upper right, because without it, this pic could be ZOOMED and ENHANCED to provide an infinite amount of Cole Bathroom Selfies.
jenn
In tears, thinking of that poor pup, and startling the crap out of my two, when I interrupted their snoring to give them an unexpected hug. Thank goodness you found him when you did. As everyone else has said, please update us on the dog, and if any help is needed.
Congrats on the house!
Mary G
P.S. You look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in that picture, and much healthier than the last one, because no alcohol bloat. I wish you’d stop talking about yourself as if being fat was the most important thing about yourself; you’re not even all that fat. I’m fat.
rikyrah
You are good people, Cole.
I hope that you can save the dog :(
redshirt
@bupalos: Agreed. I don’t support animal cruelty, but it’s strange how some people go over the top in responding to it. Kids are dying right now around the world and no one much cares, but a dog gets starved and it’s “BURN THE MONSTER!!!!”.
It’s a strange reaction and not unique to BJ – in movies, for example we’ve all seen hundreds of people killed in various ways. But if a pet is killed…OMG!!!!
I wonder what the psychology is behind this response.
Hungry Joe
@bupalos: You want to give him the benefit of the doubt? Fine. But he should be reported nonetheless; let the authorities decide if he’s competent enough to be held responsible.
As for all the comments recommending violence, well, I myself was fantasizing having a baseball bat and being left alone with the guy for 15 seconds. That’s all it is, though — fantasizing. And venting. Animal cruelty is so deeply upsetting that we need an escape valve.
Mai.naem.mobile
That dogs going to be a pretty dog once he fills out. Consider yourself lucky it was a dog pooping and peeing all over,not a cat. Cats urine all over,you would never get the odor out of the house. Seriously gross.
redshirt
@Hungry Joe:
Really? To go all Hillary on you, are you that upset about chickens raised in factory conditions? Veal farms? Fur?
Probably not, I bet.
catclub
@Hungry Joe:
NPR had a report on a business where you pay to be allowed to destroy furniture. At least that is what I gathered from missing much of the front of the item.
David Hunt
Jesus. I haven’t read the previous comments and I am sure that they’re full of people expressing what I felt when I found out about that poor dog. I will only say that the previous owner’s continuing survival is proof that there is no such thing as magic. Otherwise, the sheer force of my rage would have caused him to instantaneously combust from 1500 miles away. Jeez, I worked hard for years to not even wish harm on Dick Chaney, but this guy…
John Cole
This guy does not deserve the benefit of the doubt, so stop worrying about him.
Lexiltucky
@Emma:
I agree. I wouldn’t be surprised if the guy left the dog there to ruin the floors, etc as a surprise to the bank.
I don’t see how someone could leave an animal marooned like that and live with themselves.
Steeplejack (tablet)
Haven’t read the comments yet, but if there’s a funder to help the old dog (and I hope there is) I’m in.
ETA: Nice portrait of Cole, with actual lighting!
redshirt
@John Cole: I’m confused – were you renting your previous house? I assumed that it was yours.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Emma: “Releasing the dog” is a really bad idea. Around here they usually get eaten by the local predators. A domestic dog really has no way of caring for itself.
Congrats on the house, John; I hope they’re able to save that poor dog.
CaseyL
Oh my god. That poor animal. I can’t even. I want to fly out there, hunt that motherfucker down, and stomp him to death. Seriously.
John – Just to be sure I understand correctly – the house you just bought belonged to that same particular dickweed?
After you clean out the obvious crap (literally as well as metaphorically) that needs to be cleaned out, I very strongly recommend getting the place smudged, or going through with a bell, book and candle, or whatever method is best for ridding a structure of evil spirits.
Pogonip
We used to watch Animal Precinct; dogs looking worse than this one often ended up bouncing happily around someone’s yard. I hope this one has recovers. Cole will give him a happily-ever-after. I am hopeful that since he’s strong enough to stand, he’ll recover.
J R in WV
@bupalos:
Did you just not read John Cole’s post? The neighbor was horrified, if she had known the dog was in there she would have fed him… everyone would have fed him, but the former owner of the house snuck the dog back in after “officially” removing him.
John, congrats on the house. I’m too old and worn out to do heavy reconstruction, but I would be happy to lend a hand from down southern WV when you start working on it. I expect you will actually have plenty of volunteers of the young ahd hearty type.
Good luck with the dog! He needs the kind of care you and yours can give. Thanks for all you do.
Pogonip
@CaseyL: Cole’s an atheist.
Kay Eye
You were meant to have that house. That dog needed you. I hope he can be saved, I know Harry will give it his all.
I volunteered at an animal rescue for awhile. Those dogs and cats were a testament to our species being the lowest things that crawl.
retr2327
“Unfortunately, he has shit all over the entire house and there is dog hair everywhere. . . . . This is more exc[r]ement in one day than I usually have in six months . . .”
FTFY. But seriously, congrats on the house, and best of luck to you and your new pooch (you don’t seriously think you’re not ending up with that poor thing, do you?). Happy to help out w/vet bills – just say the word.
bystander
I like the fact that John seems to have a halo in the pic.
Villago Delenda Est
John, you’ve got quite a project ahead of you, but from your writing it’s clear that your enthusiasm is high! I hope those hardwood floors work out for you.
Oh, and that poor dog…yes, this needs to be followed up on.
Emma
@?BillinGlendaleCA: He’d have a chance another human could find it. He’d have a chance to hide and eat. Locked up inside a closed house in the heat? None. Except that St. Francis decided to send John.
J R in WV
SO lucky you went into the house when you did, for the abandoned dog. I also agree that you should call the cops (deputies?) on this creep who left that dog to starve alone. Even abandoning the dog on the edge of town would have been better, people would have seen him suffering and helped him much sooner.
Pogonip
@J R in WV: He’s got all those fraternity boys to swing hammers!
Cole, if they (and you) shovel piles of dog poop, safety masks, gloves, and long sleeves and pants will be in order.
Kristine
I cannot imagine the mindset of someone who could do that to an animal. I so hope the pup can be saved, but if it can’t at least it will leave this world while being cared for.
Congrats on the house, John, and good luck with the reno. Looking forward to Rehab Addict: West Virginia.
chopper
@redshirt:
that’s because he’s smiling.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Emma: Around here people either let them run away and they usually get hit by cars, or they take them up in the hills and “release them”; either way the dog is dead.
Keith G
Just promise me that if you go paddle boarding with Katy Perry that you will keep your board shorts on.
Misterpuff
At Pentagon presser, POTUS just detonated on the Drumpster and his “rigged” whine: “If Mr Trump is up 15 points in Nov and loses a squeaker on Election Day then he may have a case for it, But That Ain;t The Way It Stands Now!”
POW! BOOM!
Mnemosyne
@schrodinger’s cat:
No problem, I was just worried that Yahoo did that weird thing of putting email responses into Junk just for giggles.
ThalarctosMaritimus
Just be careful how you give him the water, too–if he’s very dehydrated, he may want a lot, but his body may not be able to handle it all at once. It’s worth asking an emergency vet how much is safe to give him.
Thank you for helping him, and please keep us posted. I’ll chip in for the vet care fund, as well as for some bail, if you do (deservedly) go kick that guy’s ass.
satby
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Yeah, people need to quit romanticizing that the plucky dog will survive until a kindly soul takes it in. Because they often die horrible deaths.
Even taking an unwanted animal to a kill shelter is kinder, if it can’t be saved it’s given an injection while a person holds it for the last time, telling it it was a good boy (or girl). No more suffering or starving.
redshirt
Also, too, Cole, if you lost like 20 pounds, you’d move into clearly not fat territory.
20 pounds is easily doable with a consistent exercise program. Think about it!
Feebog
If you can no longer care for the dog, than the right thing to do is take it to a shelter. John, I hope the old boy survives. I’m in if you create a fund.
Mike in DC
OT but Marist poll has Clinton up 15, 48-33. Boo yah
Mnemosyne
@bupalos:
I think the whole “pretending to remove the dog from the house and then locking it in” thing removes this guy from sympathy. He actually *prevented* the neighbors from continuing to care for the dog.
JanieM
Great self-portrait, John. Congrats on the house, it will blossom in your care. And — I hope the dog makes it.
Trollhattan
Boy howdy, things are interesting in Missouri. I’m liking this lead public defender’s style.
Villago Delenda Est
@redshirt: But that would involve…exercise…
Gravenstone
@singfoom:
Sadly, if there was any thought put into the action, I imagine the asshole viewed that outcome as a positive. A means to punish the bank (and any buyer) for taking “his” house from him.
Sincerely hope the pup can be brought back to health and joining the chorus of those ready to donate for vet expenses.
snarkyspice
DO NOT let this dog be put to sleep. PLEASE. I will donate. PLEASE.
redshirt
@Villago Delenda Est: Exercise often does.
different-church-lady
You’re seriously trying to tell me that Mr. Can’t-Resist-A-Rescue-Dog managed to unknowingly buy a house that came with a rescuse dog pre-installed?
Sometimes the universe manages to clean up its own messes in amazing ways.
cain
Jeezus! Asshole.. the rage.. ugh. I would hug my cat, but she’s not really happy with me right now. I had her shaved because she was developing knots everywhere despite grooming. IN the end, it just better for her to get her fur removed. When I saw her though, I just laughed.. she looks so scrawny and silly. She’s sleeping it off now, but poor Yellow.
Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA
Fucking barbarian. (Why do I only see/hear news about abused dogs when I’m not home and can’t hug my Iggy and Muppet?)
ETA: John, you look great. Can’t wait to hear about/see what you do with the house. (Sorry — got hung up on the poor dog.)
Joy in FL
You got a house and you helped a sweet dog.
That’s pretty good for one’s day activity : )
Congratulations on the house!
jl
@different-church-lady: On this here blog, we choose to believe all Cole stories, tall tales, narrations and self-reported minor incidents.
different-church-lady
@redshirt:
Also: 30 min. of cardio, three times a week does wonders for a person’s energy level. It’s just as much about the lungs as it is the fat.
Cole, you kicked the liquor — kicking fat is nothing by comparison.
redshirt
@different-church-lady: LOL. Wonderful!
lamh36
Can ANYONE seriously imagine these type of well thought out and calmly spoken answers from a President Trump
Nope
Trollhattan
@snarkyspice: Cole would only do so as a last-last-last resort based on the vet telling him the pup can’t be saved. I won’t attempt a Fristian diagnosis from 3k miles away, will instead console myself that absolutely the best person possible is handling this. Fingers crossed all the while.
Gravenstone
@bupalos: That’s great. Give the fucker the chance to explain his decisions to the judge. And maybe you missed the part in the OP about the dog seemingly being removed, only to find that no that wasn’t the case at all. That’s an intentional act to mislead, at minimum.
Eric U.
one of our rescues looked like that when found. The owner and his roommate both served time over it from what we have heard. Seems like an animal cruelty charge is in order for this person
jl
@Gravenstone: Depending on what the previous owner’s story is, he might be on the hook financially. I don’t know about the details of disclosure and liability when selling real property.
I mean, if a seller said he got rid of big pile of junk someplace on the property and it was still there when you took possession, you would have an argument to deduct the junk removal cost from the sales price, right? Seems like this is a much more serious situation.
different-church-lady
Real estate transactions are taxing even for the most seasoned adults.
Very smart move, especially considering the circumstances of the sale. The attorney will smooth out bumps in the road, explain all the paperwork, and find any hidden legal land mines waiting for you (like leans, problems with the title, etc.)
Did you already close the sale?
Gex
Ouch, my heart!
(About the pup, not your picture!)
Things like this stay with me for so long. I’d be happy to chip in for vet expenses. I hope he can be saved and gets a happy ending. And I hope that the guy who abandoned him gets charged.
debbie
I’d find out the guy’s name and share it with the local rescue groups. They’d know how to make his life a real misery.
Beautiful house, especially that wrap-around porch!
sukabi
John, good luck with the dog situation.
On the rehabbing the house front, do yourself a favor and save the painting until almost last. If you’re as prone to unexpected problems as this blog suggests, then you’re going to probably run into electrical and plumbing problems AFTER you paint and will have to do it again.
PAINT LAST.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@different-church-lady: I’ve done both(but gained the weight back); you don’t have to drink, but you do have to eat.
jl
@different-church-lady: If Cole hired a real estate attorney, the attorney needs to hear the story of the abandoned dog, and the apparent misrepresentation of the condition of the property at the time of the transfer.
different-church-lady
@kindness:
DCL’s rule of pets and children: never let them outnumber you.
JPL
OT… Today Trump had an interview with the Portland Press
I wanted Goodwill towards men, too
link
different-church-lady
@Mike in DC:
Spate of “Has she peaked too soon?” stories in 5… 4… 3… 2…
different-church-lady
@JPL:
You wanted goodwill out of Trump? Naive!
Jim, Foolish LIteralist
@different-church-lady: and an epidemic of bed-wetting, concern-trolling and triumphalist whining from NR and GoBlow when she’s only up by seven or eight
Barb2
Lucky pup!
You have a good heart. The healing has begun.
Pup comes with a fan club.
hovercraft
@Misterpuff:
I enjoyed his smackdown of this bullshit 400 million dollars.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@JPL: He sounds more like a contestant for Miss USA.
Misterpuff
@jl: He bought it at auction, wouldn’t it be As Is?
jl
@different-church-lady:
” Spate of “Has she peaked too soon?” stories in 5… 4… 3… 2… ”
Depends on how fast the Trumpster can dig himself deeper into the ground.
sukabi
@JPL: wow, that explains ALOT. He thinks running for President is the same as running for Miss America, being the “mean girl” to get ahead, and spouting empty platitudes like “whirled peas” are enough to put you over the top.
hovercraft
@Mike in DC:
And Suffolk has her up 6 in Florida, yay.
Miss Bianca
completely o/t, but I was looking in on LGM this afternoon and ran across a link to that infamous Peggy Noonan “yard signs” article – which I’d never read back in the day – and holy God…this woman really does sound like a lush. I mean, her writing sounds like Dean Martin’s singing, but not as coherent. It is, however, far more entertaining, if only unintentionally, particularly right now:
Wow…she got paid for this? Peggy! Peggy, please tell us what signs you’ve seen this season! Or maybe don’t…
Jeffro
@Misterpuff: I just realized that Obama is making his next 30 years that much more difficult…given how sublimely NFLTG Obama has been able to put down Trump , democrats at every level are going to be calling him nonstop for advice on these verbal bodyslams
chopper
@DocSardonic:
it is extremely digestible, high-protein, and you can either turn it into liquid or you can just sprinkle it on whatever.
Schlemazel
The 2 constants in your life, John: personal injuries & dogs finding you when they really need a human. I’m taking odds you end up with the poor old guy. I wish you well and hope the old guy can be saved. I said it when you had rosie attached to you – you are a mench.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@jl:
He seems to have a talent for that.
hovercraft
@JPL:
Well he has run pageants for years, I guess the ” I want peace on earth”, answer has rubbed off on him.
debit
John, I’m going to second the emergency vet recommendation. Don’t wait until tomorrow.
And if he makes it, and someone can get him to Minnesota, I will give him a home for life. I just made the transition from renter to homeowner and have 2200 square feet of house and a huge fenced in yard.
different-church-lady
@Jim, Foolish LIteralist:
“YOU IDIOTS NOMINATED THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD BEAT TRUMP BY LESS THAN TEN!!1!”
different-church-lady
@jl: He’s going to have to start tunneling into bedrock pretty soon.
redshirt
@Jeffro: I LOVE the idea of Obama supporting other Dems for the next 30 years. Imagine how many races he can turn to victory from what would have been a defeat.
Schlemazel
@jl:
It was a repo auction I will bet whatever amount that Cole paid the descriptions was “AS IS”
We bought our repo back in the mid ’90s and the people left it in livable shape. I think people got a lot more vicious about this sort of thing in 07
Trollhattan
@different-church-lady:
Drenched with “Why didn’t she peak higher?” sauce.
hovercraft
@different-church-lady:
In a morning thread I quoted GOS where someone pointed out that the question was for the longest time,
” why can’t she get a double digit lead over him?” And once she got it the next question would inevitably be “why isn’t she up by 35?”
So of course Chris Cillizza went on msnbc to discuss her surge in the polls and asked, “with the terrible six days Trump has had why isn’t she up by 25?”
SAD !!
Trollhattan
@hovercraft:
Pretty sure Donny was spelling it “piece.”
Schlemazel
@JPL:
I feel confident that the glowing radioactive remenents will be VERY peaceful
different-church-lady
@Schlemazel: And classy.
p.a.
Is that the same bathroom Trump taped one of his convention speeches in??!! #historicamericanfascistlandmark!
If the dog is still pooping and peeing, maybe that means no organ failure and he’s got a shot. Fingers crossed.
Hungry Joe
@redshirt: Okay, you got me: Although, as it happens, I do get upset about chickens raised in factory farms (I don’t eat them), and veal (I don’t eat it), and fur (I don’t wear it), I don’t get nearly AS upset as I do when I read about people mistreating pets. That makes me … what? A hypocrite? A sniveling weakling? You called me out, so you tell me.
NorthLeft12
@JPL: Sounds like he was paying attention to all those beauty pageants he was promoting. Gawd, what disgusting gasbag.
muddy
I’m so pleased for you John, and clearly the gods drew you there for a sweet deal and to save a poor doggie. I rescued a skellington dog like that once, it’s just heartbreaking.
Let me also say I don’t know why you keep saying about how fat you are. You look fine to me. To hear you tell it you are rolling around the street or something. Silly.
Roger Moore
@jl:
The thing is that the guy who lied about the dog isn’t the seller. He was foreclosed on, and the bank is the seller. Also, too, foreclosure sales- including this one from what Cole said- are normally as is with no guarantee of the condition of the house. That’s because former owners deliberately causing damage is common enough that the process would grind to a halt if buyers could go back and ask for money back; the risk is already priced into the discount you get when buying a foreclosure.
p.a.
the BJ post by Betty
Ricky
John, I don’t have the right to be your friend. Now, you have a choice this “dog” can be your moment of kindness or pretend concern, I know you care, get the dog whole then find a home. I know you will do right by the “dog”.
debit
Is anyone else relentlessly hitting refresh hoping for an update about the dog?
Seanly
May I make a recommendation based on one of the other posts? If you are friendly with your local vet, maybe you could give him a call and see if he could take the dog in tonight?
Seeing that poor skinny guy is going to make me hug my crazy pups that much harder when I get home tonight.
Trollhattan
@Roger Moore:
Likely all true, but I presume WV has English style land laws with mortgages and not Spanish, with deeds of trust like here in Californy. Hence, Cole’s using an RE lawyer is SOP. Still, foreclosure means mister douchenozzle no longer owned the joint.
EJ
My heart is breaking for that poor dog. He is so lucky that you’re the one who found him.
Congrats on the house!
Roger Moore
BTW, the hardest part about being a grown-up is feeling like a fraud. When I got my mortgage, I remember wondering what idiot thought I could possibly be trusted with that much money, and waiting for somebody to figure out that they were making a horrible mistake. Eventually, I realized that just about everyone feels that way sometimes, and the people who don’t worry about whether they’re up to adult responsibilities are the ones you really need to watch out for.
Blueskies
Poke around this guy’s website before you sand and refinish those floors. He’s come up with a cleaning process that may be better for your floors:
http://rosebudfloors.com/
and he has dogs:
http://rosebudfloors.com/water-based-polyurethane-floor-finish/
and he’s got a neat story about this job:
http://rosebudfloors.com/restoration-of-old-floors/james-and-dolley-madisons-montpelier-2/
not mentioned at the website is that the ink spills may have happened when Madison was drafting the Bill of Rights.
redshirt
@Hungry Joe: I don’t know. I just find it strange how people react towards pets as compared to actual people. It’s not just you, it’s pretty much everyone.
sphex
@debit: Yes.
Pogonip
@debit: Me.
Roger Moore
@redshirt:
That’s because pets are especially vulnerable; they are dependent on their humans for food and water. Abusing them falls into the same category as abusing vulnerable people, like children, the elderly, and invalids.
SWMBO
Next time take a selfie in the ice cream aisle. The smile will be bigger.
Is that in your new bathroom? Nice tile.
Poor dog. I have cried a couple of times reading his story. Set up a fund for the dog. You should name him Homie.
Prosecute. Assholes like this never learn humanity until they need it.
qwerty42
Glad you got there and saved the pup.
Good pic!
A 1910 house *should* have wood floors underneath the carpet, though probably need refinishing. Check underneath: I don’t know when subfloors became standard, but I lived in an old house of about that vintage that did not have one. In those days, the sub was probably 1 x 6 or 1 x 8 laid diagonally. If no subfloor, get some rugs because cold air will find its way in in the winter. Any insulation was probably put in during the Nixon administration, you can do better now.
SiubhanDuinne
@Ricky:
Curious, why the scare quotes?
OldDave
Forgot to mention – I love that Cole used the cell phone’s “front” camera to take the selfie for that repeated image picture in a picture in a picture effect.
LAC
You are a good man, John Cole.
stinger
Congratulations on the house, and best wishes for the dog.
satby
@debit: we can work out a relay transport if needed! I’m in!
satby
@Pogonip: Me too
Mumbles
That…
Congrats on the house, but I first thought the picture of the dog was a joke – something you pulled off using panorama shoot on your phone or something. And I thought “why would he even make that joke?”
And then I read the text. Oh. I underestimated you, or overestimated others, or did something wrong.
Suffragete City elftx
So glad you found a house and finding that poor pup like that hurt my heart.
Kristine
@satby: I’m in far NE IL and could help with a relay. I’m traveling once this month and once next month, but if the timing works, count me in.
Frivolous
John Cole, you look quite handsome in that picture. Good show.
Also, terrible about how thin the dog was. Terrible that he was left alone to starve in the house. Bad.
jame
More excitement in one day? More excrement, too, I’ll bet.
It’s guys like the former owner of that dog that make me ashamed to be a human.